four Grade One races at Leopardstown

Leopardstown today stages one of the best Irish jumps cards of the year, with four Grade One races and the Hennessy Gold Cup over 3 miles at 16.50 CET the main feature. This chase has attracted a strong field and we think the key can be found in the Lexus Chase, run over this CD at the Christmas meeting. First Lieutenant (Moiuse Morris/ Bryan Cooper) has been runner-up in the last two runnings of the Lexus, and his recent second place to Cheltenham winner Bobs Worth makes him the form choice here. Lyreen Legend (Dessie Hughes/ Barry Geraghty) was fifth that day and Lord Windermere (Jim Culloty/ Davy Russell) seventh, but both sets of connections are expecting a much better performance this time. Last season´s Lexus was won by a tremendous burst of speed by Tidal Bay (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh) and we would .love to see the old boy, now 13, score here again. He ran a great race last time in the Welsh Grand National and expect him to be held up again for a late run. Ruby, who very rarely rides for Nicholls these days, is the right man for the job, so we are hopeful, but it is a very tough race.
Walsh is riding for Willie Mullins in the other 3 Grade Ones and has an obvious chance each time, eben though these races - all with small fields- are not easy. In the opening 4yo hurdle at 14,15 he Partners the highly-rated Ivan Grozny, a very easy winner last time at Naas. However he has to reverse Christmas form with Plinth (Aidan O´Brien/ Tony McCoy), who would have won more easily then but for making a mistake at the last. O´Brien is now known as a flat trainer, but is now showing more interest in N.H. racing, in which he was a multiple champion at the turn of the century - remember Istabraq, who won 3 Champion Hurdles in the same colours.
The novice chase at 15.45 looks more tricky, even with only 3 runners. German-bred Don Cossack (Gordon Elliott/ Cooper) oiutspeeded Carlingford Lough (Jon Kiely/ McCoy) at Christmas, and the latter has won since, but it is possible that the Mullins/ Walsh contender Ballycasey can beat them both. Mullins and Walsh also have good prospects in the novice hurdle at 15.15 with the very promising Vautoux, but The Tullow Tank (Philip Fenton/ Danny Mullins) could be a stumbling block here; he has won his last 4 races, including two Grade Ones (admittedly weak ones)
In the U.K. there is an all hurdles card at Exeter on very heavy ground; there are lots of non-runners and punters are advised to check before plaoing their bets. The best betting race ois the handicap hurdle at 15.55, in which Philip Hpobbs runs 4, no doubt hoping to qualify them for the final of this series. Stable jockey Richard Johnson rides Fingal Bay, who was a star novice 2 years ago, but has not been seen since running out on this track 15 months ago, which is more than slightly offputting. Lightly-raced Top Gamble (David Pipe/ Tom Scudamore) is difficult to assess, but could be anything, so the safest bet is probably Imperial Leader (Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies), runner-up last time to Irish Saint, who ran another good race yesterday.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Plinth - Guitar Pete - Tiger Roll
2. Race: Emily Gray - Lughnasa - Blazing Sonnet
3. Race: Vautour - The Tullow Tank - Quickpick Vic
4. Race: Ballycasey - Don Cossack - Carlingford Lough
5. Race: Never Enough Time - Baily Green - Art Of Payroll
6. Race: First Lieutenant - Tidal Bay - Last Instalment
7. Race: On The Fringe - Quel Esprit - Tammys Hill
8. Race: On Your Eoin - Lockstockandbarrel - Vigil